IndexIntroductionSupernatural elements in “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”MesmerismThe AlbatrossDeath and life in deathNatureSpiritsConclusionWorks CitedIntroductionThe poets of the Romantic period were not concerned with reason, unlike most of the intellectuals of the eighteenth century. Rather, they were able to recognize the importance of non-rational processes in the mind. ST Coleridge was particularly interested in the supernatural. As a result, the supernatural is a common theme in many of Coleridge's poems. The scholar John Beer comments that Coleridge incorporated "magic" into his poetry, asking readers not to question its practicality. This is evident in his poem “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” in which Coleridge asks readers to suspend disbelief to see the meaning behind the supernatural or magical elements. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssaySupernatural Elements in “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”MesmerismThe power of hypnosis or mesmerism is one of the major supernatural themes in “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.” The sailor is able to hold the wedding guest against his will, as if he had the power of hypnosis. "He holds him with his sparkling eyes - The wedding guest stands still, and listens like a child of three years: the sailor has his will". The wedding guest is forced to listen, as if he were bewitched. A three-year-old does not have much say in what happens in his life and, similarly, l The wedding guest has no choice whether or not to stay and listen to the sailor's story. He would prefer to go to the wedding, but he is held back by the sailor's gaze. “He cannot choose but listen.” Mesmerism was the word used for hypnosis in the eighteenth century because he had dealing with the inner mind and perhaps the unconscious, topics in which Coleridge was very interested. Not only is the wedding guest forced to listen to the story; she was torn apart by a painful agony that forced me to begin my story; and then he set me free." The sailor must tell his story otherwise he will remain in agony. “I pass, like the night, from land to land; I have a strange power of speaking; The moment I see his face, I know the man who must listen to me: I teach him my story." When he tells his story, he releases his agony, but adds to the agony of the listener, who "is despairing of the senses: a sadder and wiser man." The sailor's tale is so vivid and magical that it also captures the reader's attention, as if he too were mesmerized by it. Once the sailor has begun his tale, neither he, nor the listener, nor the reader can stop. The Albatross Coleridge presents the albatross as Christ-like and returns to it frequently throughout the poem to illuminate the elements of supernaturalism. “Through the fog he came; as if it had been a Christian soul." The Albatross is a good omen, especially when it follows the sailor's ship and watches over the safety of the crew. “And behind arose a good wind from the south; the Albatross followed him”. The fog, mist, and wind carried by the albatross imply that it has some sort of divine power. When the sailor shoots the albatross it is the symbol of the breaking of the bond between man and nature. Only after the albatross is gone does the sailor realize how much he needed it. “And I had done a hell of a thing, and it was going to cause them trouble: by all accounts, I had killed the bird that made the breeze blow.” The resulting calm is an eerie stillness, a sailor's worst nightmare, becauseit depended on the wind for movement. “Instead of the cross, the albatross was hung around my neck.” Coleridge portrayed the albatross as Jesus, and many painters of this time actually depicted the albatross as if it were crucified. As Coleridge writes laterAccording to the poem, the albatross loved the sailor, just as Jesus once loved the people who crucified him. The albatross hanging around the sailor's neck separates him from the rest of the crew because it is a visual symbol of his sin. Once the Mariner realizes the beauty of the world and his connection to nature, he unknowingly blesses the creatures he once considered cursed. “The same time I could pray; and from my neck, so free, the albatross broke away, and sank like lead into the sea.” The albatross falling from the sailor's neck is the symbol of his redemption. The sailor learned to love and see the beauty in nature. It's as if a higher power had lifted the burden from him. However, once the albatross is gone, the sailor can never forget his sin. The curse that comes from the death of the Albatross is inexplicable, and Coleridge requires the reader to suspend disbelief and look beyond the events to unearth symbols of punishment and redemption. Death and Life in DeathOne of the scariest events in the poem is when the ghost ship arrives, bringing Death and Life in Death to gamble for the souls of the crew. At first, the sailor and crew are emotional: “And [Sailor cries], a sail! a sail." As the ship approaches, however, they realize that "Without breeze, without tide, she steadies herself with an upright keel!" The fact that this ship moves while theirs is stuck creates a frightening contrast between the two. Movement without wind is scary because it is logically impossible. This, however, is exactly why Coleridge chose to include the ghost ship, because he is exploring the supernatural in his work. The calm atmosphere also signals some strange happenings. The sailors are cursed, they cannot move, the sailor cannot die. The “ghost ship” is a traditional mythical/supernatural element. The crew of this ship consists of only 2 "people", Death and his companion, Life in Death. Coleridge describes the ghost ship as having "ribs", an image that parallels the sailor who is old but unable to die. “The naked carcass approached and the two rolled the dice.” Death and life in death is a gamble for the souls of the crew, which is also a very traditional myth, similar to the myth of Davy Jones. Death takes the souls of all the crew members; but Life in Death conquers the sailor's soul, meaning that he will live, but his life will be like death, which is a worse punishment than Death itself. Leaving life to chance demonstrates the lack of control humans actually have over their lives. In this way, Coleridge uses the supernatural element of the ghost ship to represent the fragility and unpredictability of human life. Nature Abrupt changes in weather are strange and unnatural and show the presence of a higher power that controls everything. When the albatross arrives, it brings fog and mist to cover the bright sun. It also brings a vital breeze to keep the ship moving. Upon the death of the bird at the hands of the sailor, the blessings immediately cease. “All in a warm coppery sky, the bleeding Sun, at noon” (2.111-112). The scorching sun turns red, the sea changes color, and all kinds of strange slimy sea creatures come out at night. These events cannot be explained through nature. It wouldn't seem so unnatural if it had happened slowly, over time, but the fact that it happened right after the albatross died makes itseem less casual. As soon as the sailor recognizes the interconnectedness of nature, he is able to sleep. However, over time another change occurs, he says: "And when I woke up, it rained." Not only does the rain come only when the sailor's mentality changes, but the wind also suddenly returns: “And soon I heard a roaring wind.” This weather pattern can be explained through science, but the fact that it occurs immediately after the sailor's repentance gives it a supernatural quality. It is as if a higher power is creating pathetic error in the poem, only due to the circumstances the rain and wind are considered good. Even though the sailor is “saved” at the end of the poem, he still has a curse on him. This would explain his happiness when he sees the rain. It's bittersweet. The moment the sailor arrives he is delighted to hear it, but he knows it is only a temporary pleasure, for now he is forced to walk the earth telling his story. Likewise, the sailor and crew definitely do not appreciate the heat and intensity of the sun while they are parched. However, the best solution would be a good balance between sun and rain, wind and calm. When the sailor shoots the albatross, it is as if he ruins the balance of nature and can only restore it through prayer and repentance. Spirits Spirits, which Coledridge uses to personify certain aspects of nature, are perhaps one of the scariest aspects of supernaturalism in poetry, at least for the Mariner. The first spirit is “the Spirit who thus tormented us; nine fathoms deep he had followed us from the land of fog and snow.” Spirits also take the form of ghosts in the grotesque figures of Death and Life in Death. For the Mariner, some of the scariest spirits are those of his dying crew, who curse him as they die. “Each turned his face with a horrible pang and cursed me with his eye.” The Mariner uses a simile for the souls that pass by him, likening their movement to the whistle of his crossbow. This is significant because it is the same tool the sailor used to kill the albatross. The wedding guest fears that the Sailor may be a ghost himself due to his strange powers and skeletal appearance, but the Sailor assures him that he is not. However, the Sailor may prefer to be a ghost rather than this fate. When he first awakens after having his soul taken, he thinks "that he died in his sleep and is a blessed ghost." By referring to a ghost as blessed, the Mariner insinuates that he would consider that fate a better option than the one he was given. When his dead crew resurrect as ghosts and begin to steer the ship, the sailor is frightened. “It was not those souls who fled in pain who returned to their corpses, but a host of blessed spirits,” he fearfully tells the wedding guest. Although the Sailor is frightened by the ghost harmonies, he recognizes the beauty of it all. When the Mariner hears two spirits speaking about him and the suffering he has endured and still has to endure is an allusion to the Holy Spirit, which the Mariner would receive in exchange for his salvation. Spirits represent an element of supernaturalism and fear, but they also personify forces of nature such as life, death, and punishment. When all the spirits harmonize, their sound means that the universe has been restored to the right natural order. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Conclusion Overall, the elements of supernaturalism in Coleridge's “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” forces the, 2007.